EDMOND, Okla. – The Missouri Western football team rallied from a 24-7 deficit Thursday night and had three possessions to take the lead in the fourth quarter at Central Oklahoma, but the Griffons fell short of completing the comeback in their season opener as they lost to the Bronchos 24-20.
 
MWSU played from behind the entire game as UCO jumped out to a quick lead on Thursday.  They scored on their two first two possessions to take a 10-0 advantage, the second score came off a Griffon turnover as Traveon James fumbled after making a first down catch deep in his own territory.
 
Missouri Western answered back early in the second quarter as Brandon Hall scored his first career touchdown on a 41-yard run to make it a 10-7 game with 12:09 left before halftime.  The Bronchos then took control of the game as they closed the half with back-to-back touchdown drives to make it a 24-7 game at the break.
 
Central Oklahoma opened the second half with the football and drove to the Griffon 30-yard line before the MWSU defense was able to pushed the Bronchos back and they forced a punt.  After each team punted again, the Missouri Western offense finally got going.
 
The Griffs made it a 24-14 game with 2:05 left in the third quarter as Shen Butler-Lawson, Jr. capped off a 14 play, 66-yard drive with a one-yard TD run, the first of his career.  Missouri Western converted a third-and-13 on the drive and also had two fourth-down conversions.
 
After the Griffon defense forced UCO into its third straight three-and-out, MWSU QB Anthony Vespo found Hezekiah Trotter with a 31-yard pass play to set up a first-and-goal situation.  On the very next play, Brison Cobbins scored his first career touchdowns on a run from three-yards out with 13:26 left in the fourth quarter to make it 24-20, but the PAT was missed.
 
The MWSU defense continue to stymie UCO as they allowed just one first down on each of their next two possessions to give the ball back to the Griffon offense, but each possession ended in a punt in their own territory.
 
Central Oklahoma tried to seal the game as they drove inside the Griffon 30-yard line with under two minutes to go, but Missouri Western stuffed a third-and-one and the Bronchos missed a 36-yard field goal and MWSU took over with 1:57 remaining.  The Griffons pitched a shutout in the second half but the offense was unable to get a first down as Vespo was intercepted on a fourth-and-20 play that ended the game.
 
Missouri Western was outgained by Central Oklahoma, 383-338, and the Griffons were able to manage only 13 first downs.  MWSU had 197 passing yards and 141 on the ground.  UCO finished with 194 rushing yards and they passed for 189.
 
Anthony Vespo finished the game 13-fo-28 for 169 yards and one interception.  Cooper Burton had career-highs in catches and receiving yards as he finished with seven receptions for 91 yards.  Brandon Hall had 98 total yards of offense with 53 yards rushing and 45 receiving.  Butler-Lawson, Jr. led MWSU with 54 yards on the ground.
 
Evan Chohon led the Griffon defense with eight tackles and he recorded one tackle-for-loss.  Devan Burrell added seven stops and Kobe Cummings had five.  MWSU finished with eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage, but they didn't record a sack.
 
The loss ends Missouri Western's streak of 11 consecutive wins away from home as it's their first loss on the road since week three off the 2018 season at Central Missouri. 
 
The Griffons will try and bounce back in their home opener next Thursday as they entertain Fort Hays State at 7:00 p.m. inside Spratt Stadium.  The Tigers are also 0-1 after falling to Northwest Missouri State on Thursday, 15-7.